Terry Gene Bussert

Terry was born in Boulder, CO December 4, 1952 to Eugene (Gene) and Orva Dee Bussert. He was the oldest of four boys and graduated from Fairview High School in 1971 where he played quarterback for the football team. He attended Western State College for one year until his lottery number came up first in the draft for the Vietnam War. He was drafted into the Army and served as a Business Programmer from June of 1972 to June 1974 when he was honorably discharged. After the Army, Terry worked at the First National Bank of Denver as an IT Cobol Programmer where he met the woman who would become his wife, Mary Vifquain. They were married August 28, 1976 in Denver, CO and resided in Colorado until 1984 when they moved to Phoenix, AZ. Terry continued his career in IT throughout his life. 

Terry began to gray at a fairly early age and soon after, became the self proclaimed “Silver Fox.” He had an infectious smile and laugh, Terry was an ambivert who could be the life of the party or enjoy contemplative time of solitude on the patio. He found peace in the outdoors. He enjoyed rock climbing, skiing, road trips to visit family in Colorado, venturing up to Grand Lake, boating, camping, coaching his son’s flag football team, and golf. Speaking of golf, after a round, Terry loved to regale anyone who would listen (and even some who wouldn’t) the hole by hole recap of his game. He was hard on himself on the course and in life, he expected the best. He was also an avid air guitarist (as anyone who’s attended a wedding with him would appreciate), bowled a mean round, said on various occasions he didn’t want a dog and then became multiple family dogs’ best friends, and was a dedicated Denver Broncos fan. Terry loved to tell stories of sitting in the south stands where the fans were frozen together, sustained by their beers and canteens of chicken noodle soup. At points throughout his life, Terry had a cat named Gandalf and a dog named Bilbo. If you too share a love of the Lord of the Rings, you’ve probably already connected that he was a fanatic; reading the books multiple times and watching the trilogy as a family tradition for many years over Christmas. 

Terry died in his home after a stubborn battle with cancer on May 7, 2024. He is preceded in death by his father, Gene Bussert, and survived by his wife, Mary, his three children, Anna, Caleb, and Kiera, his grandson, Jaxon, his mother, Orva Dee, and his three brothers, Randy, Brian, and Doug. He will be sorely missed by his immediate family as well as his in-laws, extended family members, and close friends. 

A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 16, 2024 from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. with a Mass celebration to begin at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 2312 E. Campbell Avenue in Phx, AZ 85016. Committal Service with Military Honors will take place promptly at 1:30 pm at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85024. A reception to follow after the Committal service.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation or Phoenix Rescue Mission.